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Detroit – Expansion announcements aren't imminent for the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) for the 2026-2027 season, but hockey fans in Hockeytown showed why on Saturday afternoon that Detroit ranks among the top contenders to be added to the eight-team league.
A Detroit record of 15,938 watched Saturday afternoon's Takeover Tour game at Little Caesars Arena. The second-place Montreal Victoire scored three goals in the third period to beat the New York Sirens, 3-1. The Sirens are three points out of the playoffs with seven games to play.
Trailing 1-0 after two periods, Montreal's Catherine Dubois scored back-to-back goals and Laura Stacey completed the scoring.
New York's Casey O'Brien scored the only goal in the first period on a goalmouth scramble in front of Canadian Olympic goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.
Desbiens allowed Team USA's gold-medal winning goal in overtime by Farmington Hills' Megan Keller at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games
It was the fourth PWHL game in three years in Detroit, the only city to host four neutral-site games. The total attendance at LCA: 53,586.
▶ March 28, 2026, Montreal 3, New York 1, 15,938
▶ March 16, 2025, New York 4, Minnesota 1, 14,288
▶ March 16, 2024, Boston 2, Ottawa 1 (SO), 13,736
▶ Jan. 8, 2026, Vancouver 4, Boston 3, 9,624
More: Detroit's Elle Hartje 'stoked' to bring women's hockey to LCA
Amy Scheer, vice president of PWHL business operations, has attended all four Takeover Tour games in Detroit and wasn't surprised by the record-breaking afternoon.
"Listen, this is Hockeytown," Scheer told The Detroit News after the first period. "This is what we expect from Detroit, and it's why we love coming here, right? We're treated like royalty by the Red Wings, the Ilitch family."
Scheer said the PWHL still plans on expanding by two to possibly four teams this year. Last year, Seattle and Vancouver were named expansion teams in late April.
"We've still got a lot of work to do to expand by two or four teams," Scheer said. "The fact that I can't answer it, you know, pains me a little bit."
Scheer also said LCA would be the "perfect" home if Detroit gets an expansion team.
"I don't want to play anywhere else," Scheer said. "This is where we want to play. We want to play in the NHL buildings. This might be the premier venue in the United States when you look at the clubs, the building."
Six players from the Michigan area were on the rosters for Saturday's Takeover Tour game.
Before the game, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin met with PWHL players, including New York goalies Callie Shanahan (Commerce Township) and Kaley Doyle (Livonia).
Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic posed for photos with Montreal Victoire forwards Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie) and Shiann Darkangelo (Brighton).
The Red Wings were practising ahead of Saturday night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at LCA (8 p.m., ABC, 97.1).
▶ Elle Hartje (Detroit) recorded one shot and was minus-1.
▶ Taylor Girard (Macomb) placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
▶ Callie Shanahan (Commerce Township), backup goalie to Kayle Osborne.
▶ Kaley Doyle (Livonia), did not play.
▶ Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie) took a penalty at the end of the first period for bodychecking Kristin O'Neill.
▶ Shiann Darkangelo (Brighton) stopped on a 2-on-1 break in the first period by goaltender Kayle Osborne. Assisted on Montreal's second goal.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Women's hockey draws record crowd at PWHL game in Detroit
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A Detroit record of 15,938 watched Saturday afternoon's Takeover Tour game at Little Caesars Arena. The second-place Montreal Victoire scored three goals in the third period to beat the New York Sirens, 3-1. The Sirens are three points out of the playoffs with seven games to play.
Trailing 1-0 after two periods, Montreal's Catherine Dubois scored back-to-back goals and Laura Stacey completed the scoring.
New York's Casey O'Brien scored the only goal in the first period on a goalmouth scramble in front of Canadian Olympic goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.
Desbiens allowed Team USA's gold-medal winning goal in overtime by Farmington Hills' Megan Keller at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games
It was the fourth PWHL game in three years in Detroit, the only city to host four neutral-site games. The total attendance at LCA: 53,586.
▶ March 28, 2026, Montreal 3, New York 1, 15,938
▶ March 16, 2025, New York 4, Minnesota 1, 14,288
▶ March 16, 2024, Boston 2, Ottawa 1 (SO), 13,736
▶ Jan. 8, 2026, Vancouver 4, Boston 3, 9,624
More: Detroit's Elle Hartje 'stoked' to bring women's hockey to LCA
What are the odds of the PWHL coming to Detroit?
Amy Scheer, vice president of PWHL business operations, has attended all four Takeover Tour games in Detroit and wasn't surprised by the record-breaking afternoon.
"Listen, this is Hockeytown," Scheer told The Detroit News after the first period. "This is what we expect from Detroit, and it's why we love coming here, right? We're treated like royalty by the Red Wings, the Ilitch family."
Scheer said the PWHL still plans on expanding by two to possibly four teams this year. Last year, Seattle and Vancouver were named expansion teams in late April.
"We've still got a lot of work to do to expand by two or four teams," Scheer said. "The fact that I can't answer it, you know, pains me a little bit."
Scheer also said LCA would be the "perfect" home if Detroit gets an expansion team.
"I don't want to play anywhere else," Scheer said. "This is where we want to play. We want to play in the NHL buildings. This might be the premier venue in the United States when you look at the clubs, the building."
How did the Michigan players do in the game?
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Six players from the Michigan area were on the rosters for Saturday's Takeover Tour game.
Before the game, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin met with PWHL players, including New York goalies Callie Shanahan (Commerce Township) and Kaley Doyle (Livonia).
Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic posed for photos with Montreal Victoire forwards Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie) and Shiann Darkangelo (Brighton).
The Red Wings were practising ahead of Saturday night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at LCA (8 p.m., ABC, 97.1).
New York Sirens
▶ Elle Hartje (Detroit) recorded one shot and was minus-1.
▶ Taylor Girard (Macomb) placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
▶ Callie Shanahan (Commerce Township), backup goalie to Kayle Osborne.
▶ Kaley Doyle (Livonia), did not play.
Montreal Victoire
▶ Abby Roque (Sault Ste. Marie) took a penalty at the end of the first period for bodychecking Kristin O'Neill.
▶ Shiann Darkangelo (Brighton) stopped on a 2-on-1 break in the first period by goaltender Kayle Osborne. Assisted on Montreal's second goal.
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Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Women's hockey draws record crowd at PWHL game in Detroit
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